True story. I was at a social thing one time recently where I was introduced to a new faculty member. He said his name is Ian. (When you are telling an anecdote in the past tense, would you say, he said his name was Ian, or is Ian? I get confused on this point, because although the story is told in the past tense, which would suggest was, his name is still Ian in the present. Or, is it?) So, for quite some time I carried on a conversation with Ian. “Hey, Ian, what are things like in your department? Do you guys have things, Ian? We have a lot of things, Ian, but most of them are old and out of date.” People like hearing their name repeated frequently while in conversation, because it makes them feel that they are important to you, and it helps to reinforce the connection you are trying to make with them.
